Laryngscope insertion section with tube guide

Abstract

A laryngoscope insertion section includes an elongate member and a tube guide having a moveable guiding member, located transversely of the elongate member and moveable relative to adjacent elongate member to adjust the path of a retained endotracheal tube, thereby facilitating intubation.

1 . A laryngoscope insertion section having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into a patient's oral cavity, the insertion section comprising a tube guide for retaining an endotracheal tube and guiding a retained endotracheal tube towards a patient's larynx, wherein the insertion section comprises an elongate support member and the tube guide comprises a moveable tube guiding member which is positioned transversely of the elongate support member and moveable relative to the elongate support member adjacent the moveable tube guiding member. 
     
     
         2 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is positioned laterally of the insertion section. 
     
     
         3 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube guide, including the tube guiding member, defines at least in part a distal tube path along which a detachably retained endotracheal tube which has been advanced sufficiently far in a distal direction extends from the distal end of the insertion section towards a patient's larynx during intubation, wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to change the distal tube path. 
     
     
         4 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 3 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to thereby displace the distal tube path. 
     
     
         5 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 3 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to thereby change the orientation of the distal tube path relative to the insertion section. 
     
     
         6 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 3 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to thereby displace and/or change the orientation of the distal tube path relative to the insertion section, independently of advancement of the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         7 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 3 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to thereby displace and/or change the orientation of the distal tube path without concomitantly detaching a retained endotracheal tube from the tube guide. 
     
     
         8 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 3 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable relative to the elongate support member to adjust the distal tube path in a superior or inferior direction, either or both displacing the distal tube path in a superior or inferior direction, or changing the orientation of the distal tube path in a plane including the endotracheal tube and the superior-inferior axis. 
     
     
         9 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion section extends distally of the moveable tube guiding member. 
     
     
         10 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion section comprises a plurality of moveable tube guiding members, wherein movement of some or all of the plurality of moveable tube guiding member is linked to facilitate adjustment of either or both of the position and orientation of a retained endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         11 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 10 , wherein two or more moveable tube guiding members are mechanically connected and thereby moveable concurrently. 
     
     
         12 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 10 , wherein the first moveable tube guiding member is provided on the proximal side of the elongate support member in a distal region of the insertion section, such that the first moveable tube guiding member is the most distal location where a tube retained in the tube guide contacts any portion of the tube guide, the first moveable tube guiding member is moveable with a component parallel to the superior-inferior axis to move the distal tip of a retained endotracheal tube parallel to the superior-inferior axis in use, and a second tube guiding member is provided proximally of the first moveable tube guiding member and spaced apart from the first moveable tube guiding member so that movement of the first moveable tube guiding member causes a retained endotracheal tube to pivot around the second tube guiding member. 
     
     
         13 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is mounted to the elongate support member by way of a pivot. 
     
     
         14 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the laryngoscope insertion section further comprises a manually operable control to enable a user to move the moveable tube guiding member relative to the elongate support member and thereby vary the either or both of the orientation and position of a guided endotracheal tube relative to the elongate support member. 
     
     
         15 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 14 , wherein the manually operable control is integral to the moveable tube guiding member. 
     
     
         16 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 14 , wherein the manually operable control is a portion of a moveable control member which is coupled to the moveable tube guiding member. 
     
     
         17 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 14 , wherein the insertion section comprises a plurality of moveable tube guiding members, and wherein the manually operable control is operable to cause a plurality or all of the moveable tube guiding members to move concurrently. 
     
     
         18 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is pivotable to adjust the location and/or orientation at which a retained endotracheal tube extends towards a patient's larynx in use by manual manipulation of the retained endotracheal tube, either proximal of a patient's teeth, or within a patient's oral cavity, adjacent the teeth. 
     
     
         19 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable tube guiding member is moveable between a first position in which an endotracheal tube of a first external diameter cannot be retained by and guided by the tube guide and a second position in which an endotracheal tube of the first external diameter can be retained by and guided by the tube guide. 
     
     
         20 . A laryngoscope having an insertion section retaining formation to demountably retain an insertion section according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A laryngoscope comprising a handle and an insertion section according to  claim 1  fixedly attached thereto. 
     
     
         22 . A laryngoscope insertion section having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into a patient's oral cavity, the insertion section comprising a tube guide for retaining an endotracheal tube and guiding a retained endotracheal tube towards a patient's larynx, wherein the inferior surface of the insertion section comprises a distal patient contacting point and the tube guide comprises a tube guiding mechanism to adjust the position of the distal tip of a retained endotracheal tube relative to the distal patient contacting point while the insertion section is positioned within a patient's oral cavity for intubation. 
     
     
         23 . A laryngoscope insertion section according to  claim 22 , wherein the distal tube contacting point is the distal tip of the insertion section. 
     
     
         24 . A laryngoscope having an insertion section retaining formation to demountably retain an insertion section according to  claim 22 . 
     
     
         25 . A laryngoscope comprising a handle and an insertion section according to  claim 22  fixedly attached thereto. 
     
     
         26 . A laryngoscope according to  claim 24 , wherein the laryngoscope further comprises a flexible tube guiding member extending from the handle of the laryngoscope adjacent the insertion section, which flexible tube guiding member is flexible responsive to operation of a manual control, to adjust the position the distal tip of a retained endotracheal tube relative to the distal patient contacting point while the insertion section is positioned within a patient's oral cavity for intubation. 
     
     
         27 . A laryngoscope according to  claim 26 , wherein the flexible tube guiding member comprises a bougie for introduction into the bore of an endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         28 . A laryngoscope according to  claim 26 , wherein the flexible tube guiding member comprises a channel within which an endotracheal tube can be retained. 
     
     
         29 . A laryngoscope according to  claim 26 , wherein the flexible tube guiding member comprises an actuator operable to flex the flexible tube guiding member responsive to operation of a manual control. 
     
     
         30 . A laryngoscope according to  claim 29 , wherein the actuator is selected from a group comprising: an electric motor, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an actuator comprising a shape memory alloy.